-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- France has awarded its highest decoration to veteran CNN correspondent Jim Bittermann .

CNN 's Jim Bittermann at the special ceremony in Paris where he was made a chevalier .

At a special ceremony presided over by the Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Paris Tuesday , Bittermann was presented with the `` chevalier '' -LRB- knight -RRB- of the National Order of the Legion of Honor .

Bittermann , CNN 's senior European correspondent based in Paris , said : `` For the past 30 years , I 've been explaining France and the French to the rest of the world . ''

During his career with CNN in Paris Bittermann has covered the death of Princess Diana , the last days of Yasser Arafat , the French triumph at the 1998 World Cup and the Concorde air disaster .

He joined CNN from ABC News , where he was a Paris news correspondent from 1990-1996 ; before that Bittermann was a European correspondent for NBC News . He began his career in broadcast journalism in 1970 in Milwaukee .

Founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize outstanding accomplishment , the chevalier is given annually to around 3,500 Frenchmen and women -- but few non-nationals .

Of the 13 honorees this year from outside France , two are American . Previous non-French recipients include former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower , fillm legends Charles Chaplin and Orson Welles and Norman Schwarzkopf , who led allied forces against Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein during the first Gulf War .

Apart from his work for CNN , in recent years Bittermann has been a featured speaker at journalism events such as the International Diplomacy Institute , as well as lecturing and moderating panels at the World Economic Forum in Davos .

In 1999 Bittermann was appointed a professor at the American University of Paris , teaching courses broadcast news , writing and production and politics and media among others .

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Only two Americans are set to be award the rank of chevalier this year

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Jim Bittermann , a journalist for nearly 40 years , joined CNN in 1996

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First awarded by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize outstanding accomplishment